Theo Osterkamp

Theodor "Theo" Osterkamp (15 April 1892-2 January 1975) was a Generalleutnant of the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Biography
Theo Osterkamp was born in Aschersleben, Saxony-Anhalt, German Empire on 15 April 1892, and he abandoned his forestry studies to join the Imperial German Army during World War I. He became a member of the air service of the army, claiming his first kill in September 1916, and he scored a total of 32 victories during the war, becoming the last individual to receive the Pour le Merite when he was awarded it on 2 September 1918. Osterkamp joined the Luftwaffe in 1933 as a captain, and he commanded the 51st Fighter Wing at the start of World War II, claiming four victories during the Battle of France and two during the Battle of Britain. On 23 July 1940, he was replaced by Werner Moelders, and he was promoted to Generalmajor in August 1940 and given command of the fighter aircraft in Luftflotte 2. He served in North Africa and Sicily from 1942 to 1943, and Adolf Galland took command of the German aircraft in Sicily on 15 July 1943. He served in a number of staff organizations before becoming inspector of Luftwaffe ground forces in 1944, and he was dismissed on 21 December 1944. He died in Baden-Baden, West Germany in 1975 at the age of 82.